Study on common phenotypic traits for purchasing sheep and their association with price and purpose of purchase in four markets of East Showa Zone

A study was conducted in 2008 to assess the relationship between common phenotypic traits most considered for marketing sheep and the body weight and price of sheep at markets of four towns in East Showa zone. Six hundred randomly selected sheep purchased for various purposes were studied. The study methods include questionnaire surveys with 600 sheep buyers, color observations and five morphometric measurements on purchased animals. Questionnaire survey responses showed that sheep were commonly bought for slaughter. Almost all respondents consider in order of importance, chest size, lumbar width and tail width as criteria for selecting sheep of their choice. Brownish coat color followed by whitish predominates among the sheep purchased. The mean heart girth, chest size, lumbar width and tail width values of sheep bought for slaughter was significantly higher than for those bought for breeding and other purposes. Animals bought for slaughter and resale earned significantly higher price than those purchased for breeding and fattening. Linear measurement values except tail length and price had strong positive correlations (P<0.01). During sheep marketing, call price to selling price ratio shows that after an intense negotiation, sheep owners accepted 84±7.3% of the call price. In conclusion, sheep market customers’ criteria to select sheep of their preference had strong association with the purpose of buying and the price paid after negotiation.

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